Is this the Liliac helmeted lady?
Yes.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Aqueduct etiquette
(253 posts)-
Posted 9 years ago #
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Having had a bit of a rant about the sign on the aqueduct that says 'cyclists please get off' but doesn't have any force, I noticed this on holiday in London last week. Totally support this set of signs, (which I assume have legal force) which make it clear that cycling is not allowed...
Posted 9 years ago # -
A bit of an awkward crossing of the Slateford Aqueduct last night in the dark. After I joined the aqueduct heading into town a light appeared at the far end heading towards me. We met about half-way across and the cyclist with the light moved to the side so I went to pass. However, another cyclist without a light was right behind him and turned out to be stopped against one of the 'protruding' stone pillars, which meant that I would have had to lean out over the water to get my handlebar past his so I came to an abrupt halt. He did a bit of jiggling around to give me space and I squeezed past and thanked them as I pulled away. Just before I reached the exit two more lit cyclists joined (a bugbear of mine, why they couldn't have just waited an extra few seconds and given me space I don't know) and proceeded to force themselves past me. Annoying.
This morning I pulled to the side of the towpath just before the aqueduct to let a cyclist who was crossing exit without obstruction. However, a cyclist who was behind me who clearly hadn't been paying attention nipped past, but immediately ended up having to give way to the other cyclist in any case. I think that he realised the error of his ways almost immediately, partly because I called out as to why I had pulled over as he passed me. He did at least prove to be a helpful wind-break for me for a while thereafter...
Posted 9 years ago # -
This morning big bunch of bikes on the slateford aqueduct - I let a good few pass and was trying to figure what was happening in the middle where fair few stationary bikes. Some of the advancing army showed compassion and stopped in their turn to let me pass or I would not have made it to work. This was about 8 a.m. Totally mobbed. Anyway at the middle there is a more mature chap like myself who is soaking wet. Bike also soaked. I paused to commiserate and he said "The technical term is f@!%ing freezing"
Posted 9 years ago # -
Hehe. I went across at about 8.30, saw the large puddle and thought to myself 'I bet that was a bit of a bracing dip' or words to that effect...
It was also mobbed at about 5.45 with peds and bikes but all very civil and courteous.Posted 9 years ago # -
Etiquette malfunction today:
http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10640&replies=10#post-184541
Posted 9 years ago # -
Rule 43: when taking your horse across the aqueduct, tidy up behind it.
This evening the towpath was covered with horse eggs. The only silver lining I can see with the latest weather is that most of them should have been washed or blown away by tomorrow morning.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Crossing a narrow aqueduct with terrible surface, soaking wet and slippy, with strong gusts of wind from random directions = tricky enough.
Having to simultaneously avoid copious piles of horse manure = just not funny anymore...
Posted 8 years ago # -
Etiquette test yesterday lunchtime - chap coming East had a one meter wide viking shield slung across his back. No eye contact, no smile. I hugged the railings.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"...and there had been no further offending." Hmm...
Posted 8 years ago # -
Not sure I want to bother predicting the comments that will appear on the EEN article.
Had an issue on Saturday with a larger bald man on the towpath - we pinged several times coming up behind him to no avail. Gave him a call to say we were there - he looked round and kept walking slowly in the middle of the path as if he meant to be disruptive. Wouldn't have liked to meet him on the aqueduct!
Posted 8 years ago # -
The person had a feminine name in the article but I do not recollect the person being referred to as a woman. I am wondering if this is the person who has tried to push various people in?
Posted 8 years ago # -
Came across a woman being hauled out of the canal at the aqueduct this morning. She was surprisingly cheerful as she stood there dripping in the rain, saying that it could have been worse and the weather was quite good for that kind of thing. Unfortunately she realised that she was going to have to go back in the water to find her bike, which was only visible as a trail of bubbles on the surface. I helped her lift her bike out once she'd found it, and then got her out for the second time. The bike was weeing water out of all kinds of holes I never knew bikes had.
She seemed unhurt, and, as I said, remarkably cheerful considering. I hope she's not too sore when the shock wears off, and that the i-Pad in her bag survived.
As I ride that way every day, I deliberately put all my electrical kit and valuables in my Ortlieb panniers, which I do up properly. I hope they'll help keep my stuff dry and the bike afloat if the worst happens.
Can an electronics expert on here advise what's best to do with phones and tablets that have had a dunking?
Posted 8 years ago # -
Best to put wet electronics in a container with a lot of dry rice. Shake out as much water as possible and if the battery can be removed, do so. Don't switch it on or charge!
Leave in the container for three or four days, preferably in a warm location (airing cupboard, sunny windowsill etc).
After a few days, try booting up devices. Don't plug in. If no joy, leave in the container for another few days.
I washed an iPod nano and it was toast. After four days drying out, everything was fine.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Just sent the following to Scottish Canals Lowlands via their online form...
"I'm suggesting that you consider rewording the blue signs at the ends of the Slateford Aqueduct requesting that cyclists dismount.
As I'm sure you know, at 'commuting times' on the Union Canal Towpath, the vast majority of cyclists ride across the Slateford Aqueduct and disregard the signs at each end requesting that they dismount. The reasons that people cycle across are, I suspect, that it's quicker, it's not unsafe and it's actually easier for two cyclists or a cyclist and pedestrian to pass when the cyclists are mounted rather than walking beside their bikes because they take up less width when mounted. I can understand that you may be concerned about the liability implications for Scottish Canals if you aren't seen to take some action to warn people of the risks of cycling across, and I assume that this is the main reason for the installation of the reworded blue signs at each end of the aqueduct.
I'm sure you recognise that, under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, cyclists have the right of responsible access to the towpath, and that includes cycling across the aqueduct (if done 'responsibly'), and that this Act supersedes any canal bye-laws that may previously have forbidden this.
My concern is that the current signs do not recognise the right of responsible access, and they are generating significant conflict and ill-feeling between people (both pedestrians and cyclists) who think that the signs are mandatory, and those who believe they aren't (or who are ignoring them). Furthermore, the signs do not recognise the reality of the situation on the towpath, and so are missing the opportunity to reduce the actual risks that the aqueduct presents.
I propose that at the eastern end of the aqueduct you install a replacement sign that says "Pedestrians have priority. Cycling across the aqueduct may be dangerous due to the uneven and slippery surface, particularly on wet, windy or frosty days. We recommend that cyclists dismount and walk across. Cyclists must stop and give way to pedestrians". At the western end you install a similar sign with the wording "Pedestrians have priority. Cycling across the aqueduct may be dangerous due to the uneven and slippery surface, particularly on wet, windy or frosty days. We recommend that cyclists dismount and walk across. Cyclists must stop and give way to pedestrians and to oncoming cyclists"
This wording would, I believe discharge your obligations to warn people of the risks of riding across. However it also would recognise the reality of the situation that actually exists, would establish who should give way to whom in which direction and would serve to defuse the current tensions between those who know they have the right of responsible access and those who believe that cycling is prohibited.
I look forward to hearing from you on this topic
Regards
Greenroofer
Posted 8 years ago # -
Great letter Greenroofer.
Hope they take heed.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Agree with all of the letter but the sign needs a headline, maybe it should just say CYCLISTS GIVE WAY
Posted 8 years ago # -
You could have asked them for a better surface as my 120psi tyres don't like the cobbles :-)
Posted 8 years ago # -
What we want is a nice fold-down extension to the path, doubles the width and covers the water, with a small parapet for safety. When a boat passes it has to press a button to fold the path back (barring access for a few mins like the lift bridge does), then fold it back down when they've passed. Simples! Perhaps something like the extending ramp that Lothian Buses have for wheelchairs, beep beep beep, and under it goes.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Perhaps it needs a layer of tarmac to protect the historic cobbles/setts...
Sacrilege, sacrilege - I think there may be a case for a fence on the canal edge of the towpath.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"When a boat passes it has to press a button to fold the path back"
Well there are certainly more cyclists/peds than boats.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"I think there may be a case for a fence on the canal edge of the towpath"
I thought about this the other day. Don't think there is enough room. As I pass people, either my bars or bag are "hanging" over the edge.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Instead of a fold-out platform, what about a pair of hinged pontoons to reach the southern walkway?
Posted 8 years ago # -
Don't mind, as long as there's a big button to press!
Posted 8 years ago # -
Hinged pontoons and one direction on each side of the waterway definitely the way to go. Could be done very elegantly with very little impact on the historical nature of the structure.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"one direction on each side of the waterway"
Are you mad, imagine the chaos with all those 12 year old girls.
And I thought they had split up?
Posted 8 years ago # -
They are just on a break.
You can cycle on the actual canal now but you need a special bike
Posted 8 years ago # -
@gembo ;-)
I remember the nutter who drove his car onto frozen canal a couple of years ago.
But i wonder, has anyone ever cycled on it - with spiked tyres?
Posted 8 years ago # -
This was before the CCE spiky tyre fashion -
Posted 8 years ago #
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